Sickle guard



C. J. SCRANTON Nov. 25, 1947.

SICKLE GUARD Filed Sept. 14, 1944 Patented Nov. 25, 1947 SICKLE GUARD Charles J. Scranton, La Porte, Ind., assigner to Allis-Chalmers- Manufacturing Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of DelawareA Application september 14, 1944, serial No. 553,995

This invention relates to mowing machines, harvesters and the like and more particularly to a fabricated guard construction for the reciprocating sickle or knife bar elements of such machines.

In this connection, the fabricated guard constructions heretofore known either embody one or more top plate elements which are riveted or bolted to a suitably shaped malleable iron base provided with a steel wear or ledger plate, or embody a hollow point element and a cover plate element which are riveted or bolted to a fabricated hollow base bracket. However, these known constructions are objectionable in that the rst mentioned construction is nearly as heavy and at least as expensive as the integral solid malleable iron constructions, and in that the second mentioned construction is too intricate, fragile and expensive for practical purposes.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to'provide an improved lightweight, fabricated guard -construction which is extremely durable and inexpensive to manufacture.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved guard construction embodying correlations of elements shaped and arranged t afford al1 of the advantages with respect to strength, rigidity, and ease of attachment and removal obtained with the malleable iron structures heretofore employed. The construction and advantages of guards embodying the invention will become readily apparent as the disclosure progresses and more particularly points out features considered of special importance. And accordingly, the invention may be considered as consisting of the various details of construction, correlations of elements, and arrangements as is more fully set forth in detailed description and in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a partial mower bar assembly embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line II-II of Fig. 1;v

Fig. 3.is a bottom View of the sickle guard shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan View of a modified construction illustrating an application of the invention to a two prong guard structure with the tips removed;

Fig. 5 is an end view of the structure shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line VI-VI of Fig. 4;

Fig. 'l is a section taken on line VII-VII of Fig. 1 with the mower bar and sickle element removed;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the separately formed tip member;

Fig. 9 is a side view of thejtip member shown in Fig.8;

Fig. 10- is a section taken on line X-X of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a section taken on line XI--XI of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a planview of the ledger plate;

Fig. 13 is a section taken on line XIII-XIII of Fig.4; and

Fig. 14 is a section taken on line XIV-XIV of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawing, it is seen that a sickle guard embodying the invention may be removably secured, as by means of bolts I and a clip element 2, to a stationary mower bar 3 in operative relation to a conventional reciprocating sickle or knife bar 4 to which are riveted individual knife elements 5, and that such a guard may include separately formed and integrally united sheet metal body and tip members 6 and 1, respectively. However, the primary function of clip element 2 is to provide an upper guide for sickle bar 4 and therefore it is unnecessary to provide a clip element for each guard.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 4-6 inclusive, 13 and 14, it is seen that body member 6 comprises a piece of sheet metal shaped to provide an integral, marginally flanged structure including at least one forwardly tapering prong part of inverted U-shape cross-section (see Fig. 13) having a top portion presenting a ledger plate supporting surface 8 including an approximately at rear portion I0 and forwardly extending edge portions 20 united by a depressed, concave wall portion presenting. as besi-I shown in Figs. 2 and 6 an upwardly offset, ledger plate tongue receiving arch 9 disposed adjacent and extending above the forward end of ledger plate supporting surface 8. Member 6 also includes an elongated body part 25 which extends approximately at right angles to the prong part and presents an approximately flat, coextensive rear surface II adapted to abut one side of mower bar 3 and a coextensive, upwardly concave, apertured front surface I2 which merges with rear surface II and with the substantial flat rear portion I0 of surface 8 in depressed relation thereto (see Figs. 2, 5, 6 and 7). Marginal strengthening flange I3, which is preferably made continuous except at the forward end of the prong part (see Figs. 2, 4, 5, 6, 13 and 14), constitutes the plain side walls o f such part. 'I'he apertures I4 in concave lsurface I2 are primarily for the purpose 3 of obtaining'aeecss to the rivets Il securing knife elements l to sickle bar 4 and are so arranged might interfere with the operation of the sickle.

The rear ledger plate supporting portion of the prong part is preferably provided with a rivet receiving hole II.

Referring now to Figs. 8-10, inclusive, it is seen that tip member 1 comprises a piece of sheet metal shaped to provide an integral hollow structure having a partially closed point portion I formed by rearwardly diverging, plain side walls I'l and an arched top wall I 8 uniting the forward end portions of side walls I1 and extending rearward therefrom in spaced, overlying. diverging relation with respect to lthe top rear edges of the side walls; the space between the exposed upper edges of the side walls and the opposed edges of the top wall being suiilcient to accommodate a ledger plate and the sickle element reciprocating thereon as is best indicated in Figs. 2 and '1. In addition, the divergence of side walls Il is such that a tip member 1 may be in effect telescopingly engaged with the forwardly tapering prong part on body member 6 as is best indicated in Fig. 3. In this connection, the rear portion of arched top wall I8 is provided with an aperture I9 which is alined with aperture I5 in the lprong part when the tip and body members are assembled as shown in Fig. 7

It is preferable, prior to assembling the tip and body members, to mount and secure on each prong part of the body member a ledger plate 2| having a forwardly projecting tongue part 22 snugly disposed beneath upwardly oifset arch portion 9 and a rivet receiving aperture 23 which is alined with aperture I in the prong part when tongue/22 is correctly inserted beneath arch 9 as is clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 7. The coaction between arch 9, which provides a recess 24 in the top portion or wall of the-Prong part, and tongue 22 is such as will insure alinement of ledger plate hole 23 with hole I5 in the prong part and will enable the ledger plate to be rigidly and correctly positioned on the prong part, either before or after tip member 'I has been secured 4 located from those disclosed, the spot welding shown is preferred. When the guard is once assembled and united as herein disclosed, tip, memberl cannot be separated from the prong part of body member 6.

However, ledger plate 2| can be readilyv removed, if desired, even when the guard is lsecured to mower bar 3, simply by chipping or otherwise eliminating the peened over portion of the rivet andI knocking same upward through hole I9 in the overlying top wall portion of tip member 'l and a new 4ledger plate inserted and riveted in place. Hole I9 permits bucking-up the head end of lthe rivet while the lower end thereof is being peened over. In addition, the individual sickle knife elements 5 may also be readily removed and replaced when the guards are secured to mower bar 3 simply by shifting sickle bar to position the knife element securing rivets in line with the apertures I4 in concave wall I2; Athe normal stroke of sickle bar 4 being sucient (the stroke is usually equal to the width of a knife element to effect an alinement of the rivets and holes even on those guards assembled with a clip element 2. In replacing a knife element, the rivets are inserted and bucked-up by inserting a suitable tool through an alined aperture I4 in concave surface I2. l

Sickle guards constructed in accordance with this invention provide a simplified and durable construction, and although certain features render the guard particularly adapted for use on harvesters as distinguished from mowers, many of the features are of general application. And it should therefore be understood that although certain of the features and details herein shown and described for purposes of illustration repre- -sent a preferred embodiment of the invention,

thereto, simply by inserting a rivet through holes l| I5 and 23 and peening over the underside of same as shown in Figs. 2 and 7. If for any reason, the ledger plate end of the rivet, projects slightly above such plate, it may be readily ground flush with same so as not to interfere with the operation of the sickle element.

Completion of the sickle guard is readily ef fected simply by positioning a tip member 'l on each prong part of body member 6 and integrally uniting same by spot welding or otherwise fusibly uniting the side walls |'l of the tip member to the enclosed, contiguous, abutting side wall portions of the prong part with the upper edges of walls I1 Vsupportingly abutting the overhanging underside it is not desired to limit the invention to such features and details as various modifications within the scope of the appended claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent: Y y

1. A sickle guard body member comprising a piece of sheei-I metal shaped to provide an integral marginally flanged structure including a mower bar engaging body part and at least one forwardly projecting ledger plate supporting prong part, said prong and body parts presenting a substantially continuous top surface coextensive with the transverse width thereof comprising an approximately fiat surface` at the rear of the prong part, an approximately flat portion at the rear of the body part spaced from sai-d fiat prong part and at leasi-l coextensive in width therewith, and an upwardly concave intermediate portion coextensively merging with said fiat prong and body portions in depressed relation thereto, said dat surface of the prong part including forwardly extending edge portions united by a slightly depressed concave wall portion, said prong part having a forward end portion of its top surface shaped to provide a recess therein adapted to coact with said depressed concave Wall por- I tion to receive snugly the tongue portion of a ledger plate mounted on the at surface portion vand the forwardly extending edge portions of said prong part.

2. A sickle guard comprising a single piece of sheet metal shaped to provide a body member having a forwardly projecting prong part including side walls and a top Wall presenting a substantially flat ledger plate supporting rear portion merging with a forwardly extending and slightly depressed central portion providing top side edge surfaces substantially-flush with said ilat rear portion and an upwardly offset forward end portion providing an arch extending above said centrally depressed portion a sufcient distance to receive snugly therebeneath the tongue portion of a ledger plate, and a ledger plate mounted on said at portion and said top side edge surfaces, said ledger plate having its side edge portions disposed in overhung relation with respect to the side walls of said prong part and its forwardly projecting tongue portion disposed beneath said arch.

3.- A sickle guard comprising a single piece of sheet metal shaped to provide a body member having a forwardly projecting prong part adapted to have a separately formed tip member secured thereto. said prong part including side walls and a top wall presenting a substantially flat ledger plate supporting rear portion merging with a forwardly extending and slightly depressed central portion providing top side edge surfaces substantially flush with said fiat rear portion and an upwardly offset forward end portion providing an arch extending above said centrally depressed portion a sufficient distanceto receive snugly therebeneath the tongue portion of a ledger plate, and a single piece of sheet metal shaped to provide a tip member including a hollow point structure partially enclosing the forward end of said prong part and having side wall portions and a top wall portion extending rearward from said point structure in spaced relation with respect to each other, said side wall being abuttingly xedly secured to the outer surfaces of the side walls of said prong part with the upper edges of the side wall portion iiush with said top side edge surface and said top wall portion disposed in spaced overlying relation with respect to said prong part and with respect to the upper edges of said side portions.

4. A sickle guard comprising a single piece of sheet metal shaped to provide a body member having a forwardly projecting prong part adapted to have a separately formed tip member secured thereto, said prong part including side walls and a top wall presenting a substantially flat ledger plate supporting rear portion merging with a forwardly extending and slightly depressed central portion providing top side edge surfaces substantially flush with said flat rear portion and an upwardly offset forward end portion providing an arch extending above said centrally depressed portion a sufficient distance to receive snugly therebeneath the tongue portion of a ledger plate, a ledger plate mounted on said flat portion of the prong part and on said top side edge surfaces and having side edge portions disposed in overhung relation with respect to the side walls of said prong part, and a single piece of sheet metal shaped to provide a tip member including a hollow point structure partially enclosing the forward end of said prong part and having side wall portions and a top wall portion extending rearward from said point structure in spaced relation with respect to each other, said side wall portions being abuttingly xedly secured by means of a weld to the outer surfaces of the side walls of said prong part with the upper edges of said side portions supportingly abutting the underside of the overhung edge portions of said ledger plate and .said top wall portion being disposed in spaced overlying relation with respect to said prong part and with respect to the upper edges of said side portions.

at the rear of the prong part, an approximately flat portion at the rear of the body part spaced from said at prong part and at least coextensive in width therewith, an upwardly concave intermediate portion coextensively merging with said flat prong and body portions in depressed relation thereto, said prong part having a forward end portion of its top surface shaped to provide a recess therein adapted to receive snugly the tongue portion of a ledger plate mounted on the flat surface portion of the prong part, and a single piece of sheet metal shaped to provide a tip member including a hollow p oint structure partially enclosing the forward end of said prong part and having side wall portions and a top wall portion extending rearward from said point structure in spaced relation with respect to each other, said side wall portions being abuttingly secured to the outer surfaces of the side walls of said prong part and with their upper surfaces flush with the flat surface portion of said prong part, said top wall portion being disposed in spaced overlying relation with respect to said prong part and with respect to the upper edges of said side portions.

6. A sickle guard comprising a single piece of sheet metal shaped to provide a body member having a forwardly projecting prong part adapted to have a separately formed tip member secured thereto, said prong part including side walls and a top wall presenting a substantially flat ledger plate supporting rear portion and an offset front portion providing a recess adapted to receive therein the tongue portion of a ledger plate, a ledger plate mounted on said fiat portion of the prong part and having a forwardly projecting tongue portion disposed in said recess, said ledger plate having its side edge portions disposed in overhung relation with respect to the side walls of said prong part, and a single piece of sheet metal shaped to provide a tip member including a hollow point structure partially enclosing the forward 'end of said -prong part and having side wall portions and a top wall portion extending rearward from said point structure in spaced relation with respect to each other, said side portions being abuttingly i'lxedly secured by means of a weld to the outer surfaces of the side walls of said prong part and with their upper edges supportingly abutting the underside of the overhung edge portions of said ledger plate, said top wall portion being disposed in spaced overlying relation with respect to said prong part and with respect to the upper edges of said side portions.

7. A sickle guard comprising a single piece of sheet metal shaped to provide a body member having a forwardly projecting prong part adapted to have a, separately formed tip member secured thereto. said prong part including side walls anda top wall presenting a substantially iiat ledger plate supporting rear portion and a front portion shaped to provide a recess adapted to receive therein the tongue portion of a ledger plate, a ledger plate mounted on said dat por- 7 tion of the prong part and having a forwardly projecting tongue portion diSDOsed in said re' cess, said ledger plate having its side edge portions disposed in overhung relation with respect to the side walls of said prong part, and a single piece of sheet metal shaped to provide a. tip member including a. hollow point structure par. tially enclosing the forward end of said prong partand having side wall portions and a top wall portion extending rearward from said point REFERENCES crrnn Thei'ollowing references are oi! record in the file oi this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Date Name Vutz Mar. 31, 1942 Patterson et al July 15, 1930 Johnson Oct. 21, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain 1906- Great Britain 1913 Great, Britain 1901 Germany Aug. 10, 1927 

